Class of 2001
September 2008

Dear Classmates,

I would like to start of this letter by introducing Lana Elsenpeter Matzek as a new Class Agent. Lana has graciously agreed to help volunteer to assist as a connection between our class and the Alumni Office with me. Lana is excited for the role and will be able to introduce herself and share some thoughts with you in the January 2009 class letter.

This fall Lana had an opportunity to join the other Class Agents at a Volunteer Leadership Day to hear an update of the college from the new Gustavus President, Jack Ohle. Serving as the college’s sixteenth president, he was inaugurated during Gustavus’ Homecoming/Family weekend this year. President Ohle has had a long standing career in higher education, most recently coming to Gustavus from his role as president of Wartburg College, another ELCA private college located in Iowa.

Each fall during the Homecoming festivities we also have an opportunity to reflect on the level of involvement each class has with the college. During the last fiscal year, the Gustavus Annual Fund set a new record through donations of $1.98 million dollars contributed by 7400 alumni. The alumni giving level this last year was 30%. The Class of 2001 had a 16% participation rate. As our class has been completing post-graduate studies and becoming more established in career paths, our level of giving has increased over the past few years. If you haven’t had the opportunity to start giving back to Gustavus, you can do so through the alumni web site at: http://alumni.gustavus.edu.

Can you believe that the tornado of 1998 was over ten years ago? Check out the “Tornado Remembered” section on the Alumni page of the Gustavus web site.

Go Gusties!

Hal DeLaRosby and Lana Elsenpeter Matzek

2001 Co-Class Agents

New Additions to the Family

AnnaLee was born to Jillian Deuel Anderson and Karl Anderson on February 6, 2008.

Jackson was born to Chris and Sarah (Jackson) Ashbach on April 5, 2008.

Makayla was born to Eric Boline on October 24, 2007.

Benjamin was born to Mitch and Sarah (Engstrom ’03) Brinks on September 8, 2006.

Kiersten was born to Brandon Bussler and Cathleen Edlund Bussler ’00 on July 6, 2008.

Charlotte was born to Jason and Jill (Chaffee) Erdman on April 14, 2008.

Tessa was born to Andrew and Heidi (Friederichs) Hermel on January 1, 2008.

Lydia was born to Samantha Edwards Fuller and Chad Fuller on May 6, 2008.

Madeline was born to Paul and Shannon (Hogan) Gorman on April 3, 2008.

Eli was born to Mary and Brad Gustin on August 11, 2007.

Quinn was born to Sean O’Brien and Ellie O’Brien on February 7, 2008.

Alexandria was born to Tanya Erickson Schwartz on July 2, 2007.

Tanner was born to Dean and Bridget (Hundt) Smith in May 2007.

Lydia was born to Robb and Margaret (Thompson) Trenda on October 31, 2007.

Benjamin was born to Matt ’03 and Kara (Wachlarowicz) Wallace on October 30, 2007.

Soren was born to Martin and Jill (Sorenson) Weiland on June 26, 2007.

Career Moves

Eric Boline works for Dominium Management Services as an assistant manager.

Victoria Czupryna works as a senior account manager for Appliance Recycling Centers of America, Inc.

Hal DeLaRosby works as an area coordinator for Pacific Lutheran University.

Jonathan Gray works for Virginia Theological Seminary as an assistant professor of church history.

Brad Gustin works for Heartland Ministry in Northeast Missouri.

Kim Johnson works for TheMIGroup as an international relocation counselor in Illinois.

Josh Kramer works for Target as a financial analyst.

Sabina Ludy worksfor Duke Hospital in North Carolina as a clinical pharmacist.

Jessica McIntire-Pankov works for Sage in Dublin, Ireland.

Matthew Miller works for the Minnesota DNR as a conservation officer.

Ben Mondeel works for Cargill.

Sean O’Brien was promoted to senior financial analyst at SHE, Inc.

Jessica Schultz works for Tripler Army Medical Center as a clinical psychologist in Hawaii.

Kelly Bangstad Wilz is enrolled at Indiana University receiving her doctorate degree.

Jonathan Gray received his Ph.D. in Early Modern European History from Stanford University.

Heather Lee Binger received her master’s degree in human resources and industrial relations from the University of Minnesota – Carlson School of Management.

Jennifer Sickmann received her MBA from the Carlson School of Management – University of Minnesota.

Marriages

Richard Bartell married Robin Stennes ’04 on October 6, 2006.

Andrew Fitch married Tara Barnes ’05 on June 21, 2008.

Jonathan Gray married Karin Batalden on April 19, 2008.

Caroline Hildreth married David Williams on January 20, 2008.

Ross Hussey married Molly Sevcik ’02 on June 14, 2008.

Jenny Schlief married Peter Bennett on September 8, 2007.

Jana Schnell married Clint Cottrell on May 25, 2008.

Michael Vasquez married Kristen York on December 31, 2006.

Emily Wattnem married Christopher Grossman on May 17, 2008.

Presidential Inauguration

Gustavus Adolphus College will inaugurate Jack R. Ohle as its 16th president at 3:30 p.m. Friday, Oct. 3 in Christ Chapel. The public is invited to celebrate this event along with a reception on Eckman Mall that will follow the ceremony. On Homecoming, Saturday, Oct. 4 Gustavus will celebrate with an Oktoberfest; buffet-style dinner immediately following the Homecoming football game in the Lund Center Forum. Cost is $7 per person. For more information about Inaugural Week events, contact the Office of College Relations at 507-933-7520.

Gusties Gather! The Reason to Connect with Other Gusties

Gusties Gather! is a day for Gusties across the country to have an opportunity to connect or re-connect with other Gusties in their area. It is a time to build Gustavus friendships and networks and is in no way a fundraiser. Most gatherings are on Sept. 28. Watch for gatherings in your area or check out the Alumni website for a location near you.

Twin Cities Gustie Breakfasts

Join other Minneapolis/St. Paul area Gusties for a morning cup of coffee and breakfast while getting an update on Gustavus. The group meets the third Wednesday of each month. Future presenters include Tim Robinson ’65, director of Nobel Conference 2008, in October and in November Tom Young ’88, vice president for institutional advancement.

Nobel Conference ― Who Were the First Humans?

Nobel Conference XLIV is scheduled for Oct. 7 and 8, 2008 and is focusing on the first humans. Presenters will consider the full range of recent evidence about the first modern humans going beyond archaeologists and paleoanthropologists to the work of biologists, climatologists, geneticists, mathematicians, and psychologists who have been adding to the scientific database.